Self-venting multiple product mixing valve construction



L. I. FORIM April 14, 1970 SELF-VENTING MULTIPLE PRODUCT MIXING VALVE CONSTRUCTION Filed June 5. 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 fra /520 Leo j J'Zra'm Z? M L. I. FORIM April 14, 1970 SELF-VENTING MULTIPLE PRODUCT MIXING VALVE CONSTRUCTION Filed June 5. 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent O 3 506,160 SELF-VENTING MUI TIPLE PRODUCT MIXING VALVE CONSTRUCTION Leo I. Forim, Bloomfield, N.Y., assignor to Sterling Drug Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed June 3, 1968, Ser. No. 734,110 Int. Cl. B67d /60 US. Cl. 222145 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Multiple product mixing aerosol dispensers are increasingly used for certain applications. These dispensers comprise at least two separate chambers in a Single container and include a valve for each chamber, a mixing chamber receiving the multiple products mixing the same, and a main valve stem having a passage to the atmosphere for leading the mixed product to the point where they are applied.

Many such aerosols retain a part of the mixed material in the mixing chamber when the valve is closed, and in others some of the materials do not become sufliciently mixed. When the individual valves for the separate chambers of the container are closed, some of the mixed materials become trapped. In the present case a valve is provided in which the main dispensing valve stem is open to the atmosphere at all times with the exception that means may be provided for closing the main valve through the dispensing valve stem whenever the valve to the separate chambers of the container are open.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention comprises a dual or multiple product aerosol valve construction which provides for mixing of two or more products in a mixing chamber and the dispensing thereof through a single dispensing stem, the construction being of extremely simple design wherein a single unitary member forms all of the separate parts, i.e., two (or more) product dispensers or valves to the mixing chamber, means forming the mixing chamber, and the dispensing stern. These are all made of one piece which is depressible, and the remainder of the apparatus which is fixed, is also made in an integral single piece cooperating therewith, this piece being fixed to the container. Means may be provided for closing the dispensing stem until it is released and moves back to original posi tion under spring pressure, the dispensing stem passage being normally open to the atmosphere, thus providing for emission for mixed or unmixed products. The residual mix in the chamber will always completely empty, so that the new valve is self-venting.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a sectional view illustrating a form of the invention in normally closed condition of the valve;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view on line 22 of FIG. 1;

'FIG. 3 is a sectional view on line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but showing a modification;

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FIG. 5 is a perspective detail view illustrating guide means which may be utilized in the form of the invention shown in FIG. 4, and

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 4.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now more particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a main container 10 which may be of any construction having a mouth at 12, this mouth preferably being annular. On the mouth 12 there is provided a metal cap or ferrule generally indicated at 14 and crimped as at 16, 16 about the mouth 12 to position all of the parts permanently in place on container 10 as will be described more particularly hereinafter.

The ferrule 14 is preferably annular to conform to the mouth 12 of the container and extends inwardly in an annular web at 1 8, which is depressed in the case shown. The ferrule 14 then is formed as at 20 into an annular flange having a central opening 22 for the reception of the delivery valve stem 24 which has a center passage 26 therein, leading to an orifice 28. The valve stem 24 is open at the bottom thereof as at 30 and is provided with a limit flange 32 locating its uppermost position.

It will be seen that the stem 24 is shown in its uppermost position wherein the interior of the ferrule is open to the atmosphere but that it may be depressed for the purpose of opening the product valves to be described. The lower end of stem 24 may however be closed by a downwardly extending skirt 42 at the lower end of the valve stem 24 so that when the latter is retracted against the action of the spring, the interior of the ferrule 20 is closed with respect to the atmosphere. If the skirt 42 were not present, then there would be constant communication from the inside of the ferrule with respect to the atmosphere, but if the skirt 42 is utilized, then the interior of the ferrule is cut off from the atmosphere but only when valve stem 24 is depressed, at which time the product valves are open.

The dispensing or delivery stem 24 has a pair of webs at 34, these being very small as shown in FIG. 2. However they connect and support a pair of cylinders 44 and 46, each of which has a closed bottom 48 and 50, with an adjacent inlet orifice 52, 54. The cylinders 44-, 46 are open at the top portions thereof as clearly shown in FIG. 1 but the webs 34 merge into opposite annular flanges 56 and 58 on the cylinders 44 and 46, see particularly FIG. 2. These flanges provide supports for outboard semicylindrical guide members 60 and 62 which closely slidingly fit in correspondingly shaped guideways 64, 66, the latter forming part of an interior fixed chamber forming member generally indicated at 68. Springs 70, 72 are provided surrounding the respective cylinders 44 and 46 and yieldingly maintain the same in the position shown in FIG. 1. These two springs maintain the entire depressible assembly including stem 24 and the two cylinders 44 and 46 in the upwardmost position, but they allow retraction of this member when pressure is exerted inwardly on the outer end of stem 24. Proper sealing gaskets are also provided and it will be seen that the ferrule, with the appropriate sealing member 74 properly held in position by the crimp 76, provides a mixing chamber 78 which is freely open with respect to the atmosphere in the position of the parts shown in FIG. 1. However in this position the orifices 52 and 54 are completely shut off from the interior of the container.

The interior chamber forming element 68 includes a surrounding upright circular wall 79. This wall has a floor 80 which forms a support for the seals 38 which support the springs 70 and 72, and at the same time a central abutment 82 integral with floor 80 carries a wall 84 forming a recess receiving the skirt 42, if the latter is present. The floor 80 is substantially solid having however Openings as at 86 and 88 to allow the lower ends of the cylinders 44 and 46 to descend to position the orifices 52 and 54 below the floor.

The floor 80 also forms a support for a surrounding flange 90 to carry a bag or some inner container 92, and thus it will be seen that the container is itself a product container, and the container 92 is separate and may be filled with a ditferent product. There is an offset or jog 94 in the floor element 80 to provide access for cylinder 44 with respect to the outer container, cylinder 46 having access through orifice 54 only to the inner container 92.

In the operation of the device, it is only necessary to retract valve stem 24 to some extent, thus allowing material under pressure from the outer container to enter through orifice 52 into the cylinder 44 and thus enter mixing chamber 78; at the same time the lower end of cylinder 46 will enter the inner container 92, to discharge material therefrom also into the mixing chamber 78. These materials of course move upwardly through the respective cylinders 44 and 46 into the top of the mixing chamber but that there is no orifice here for direct entry into the valve stem 24. Therefore the two materials become mixed before they move downwardly through the open area above floor 80 in FIG. 2 to the lower end of the discharge or delivery valve stem 24 where the mixed materials then are delivered through passage 26 to the atmosphere. Whether or not the skirt 42 is used, the mixing chamber will be clearly fully open to the atmosphere when the delivery valve stem 24 is in the FIG. 1 position, so that all excess mixed (and unmixed) materials are vented and nothing is left in the mixing chamber. However if the skirt at 42 should be desired to be used, then the atmosphere can be cut off from the mixing chamber, allowing the product to mix for a longer period of time if this should be found to be necessary, the atmosphere being then blocked off from the interior of the mixing chamber.

Referring to FIGS. 4, 5, and 6, modified structures are disclosed but essentially the operation is as above described as to FIGS. 1 to 3 inclusive, and where appropriate primed numerals are used to indicate equivalent parts. Thus in FIG. 4 the ferrule holding the valve to the container is indicated at 14, the valve body at 64, the two cylinders at 44 and 46', the delivery stem at 24', the springs at 70' and 72', gasket at 74, etc.

In this case however, the web 34' is guided in slots 100 in a fixed central cylindrical guide 102, these slots providing a path for the mixed products to the delivery stem from the mixing chamber 78'. The cylinders 44' and 46' are guided in vertical tubes 104, 106, and extend through openings 86' and 88 in the floor 80' for the purpose of admitting products from both containers to the mixing chamber upon depression of the stem 24', as before.

In FIG. 5, the only variation relative to FIG. 4 resides in the fact that the ends 108 of web 34" only one being shown, are guided in open-sided guides 110, the cylinder 44" and its duplicate not shown being held to web 34 as before.

Having thus described my invention and the advantages thereof, I do not wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed, otherwise than as set forth in the claims, but what I claim is:

1. A self-venting multiple product mixing valve construction comprising a main valve body, means for attaching the same to an outer container, and a valve stem therefor,

means in said main valve body forming a mixing chamber, a floor on the main valve body, means on said floor for attaching an inner container thereto, within the outer container, a pair of openings in said floor, one opening into the inner container only and the other opening into the outer container only, a cylinder for each opening in the floor, each cylinder being open at its top to the mixing chamber and closed at its bottom, means securing the cylinders to the valve stem for depressive action therewith with respect to the floor of the valve body,

said closed bottom ends of said cylinders being normally generally aligned with said floor but being depressible below the same, apertures in each cylinder for communication thereof with a respective container, when the cylinders are depressed, for admitting the product from the inner container and the product from the outer container simultaneously to said cylinders and thence to the mixing chamber, the apertures being closed by the floor when the cylinders are in raised position,

said valve stem having a delivery passage therethrough communicating at the inner end of the passage with the mixing chamber in the valve body, and an exit orifice at the outer end of the delivery passage in said valve stem.

2. The valve of claim 1 including a seal for said mixing chamber, the means securing the valve body to the outer container securing said seal in position and maintaining the same in tight condition.

3. The valve of claim 1 including means at the inner end of the delivery passage of the depressible stem closing the same with respect to the mixing chamber upon depression of said stem.

4. The valve of claim 1 including means at the inner end of the delivery passage of the depressible stem closing the same with respect to the mixing chamber upon depression of said stem, said passage closing means being open upon return of the valve Stem to its normal position.

5. The valve of claim 1 including guides for the cylinders.

6. The valve of claim 1 including guides for the cylinders, said guides forming parts of the main valve body.

7. The valve of claim 1 including guides for the cylinders, and a web integral with the stem and the cylinders.

8. The valve of claim 1 including guides for the cylinders, and a web integral with the stem and the cylinders, said web being generally diametrical of the main valve body, and slots in the guides accommodating the web.

9. The valve of claim 1 including guides for the cylinders, and a web integral with the stern and the cylinders, said web being generally diametrical of the main valve body, and slots in the guides accommodating the web, and springs about the cylinders normally maintaining the same, the web, and the stem in raised position.

10. The valve of claim 1 including guides for the cylinders, and a web integral with the stem and the cylinders, said web being generally diametrical of the main valve body, and slots in the guides accommodating the web, and springs about the cylinders normally maintaining the same, the web, and the stem in raised position, said springs being located in the guides.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,941,696 6/1960 Homm 222- X 2,973,883 3/1961 Modderno 22294 3,045,925 7/1962' Giangualano 239'306 3,416,709 12/1968 Shultz et al 222-145 X ROBERT B. REEVES, Primary Examiner D. A. SCHERBEL, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

